Welcome to the Photo Gallery Spotlight. Each
month we'll showcase a particularly nice aquarium photograph, taking the time to discuss
the identification and husbandry of the animal pictured as well as information relating to
the technical details of how the photo was taken. Readers are encouraged to send
images (and details on the organisms pictured, as well as the details of how they captured
the shot) they would like to submit for possible inclusion in this feature to terry@advancedaquarist.com . For submissions
that are published in Advanced Aquarist, the author will receive a $25.00 gift certificate
toward a purchase from one of our advertisers chosen by the recipient.
Banded Serpent
StarProbably Ophiolepsis superba
It is a usually
harmless serpent star found in all tropical areas. It is mainly an omnivorous scavenger
that usually hides in the aquarium until feeding time. It is very useful and active as
part of a clean-up crew. Its
mouth, scales, and ambulatory feet are clearly visible in this picture.
This was a lucky shot at
night. It was climbing on the front glass. I just had the time to grab my camera, fit the
flash gun and shoot with nearly no lights on. As the glass had been cleaned the same day,
the sudden light was scary enough to make the star fall and run into hiding.
Nikon CoolPix
990
Proud sponsor of this column
Nikon SB-28DX
external flashgun using coiled cable
Full Auto
No aquarium light, a couple of dimmed lights
in the room
